Chicago Blackhawks coach, Connor Bedard respond to national criticism of 19 Y.O.

The Chicago Blackhawks, like the rest of their city’s sports franchises, aren’t giving local fans much to cheer about this year. The Blackhawks haven’t had a winning season since 2019-20 and they’re 16-31-6 before their matchup on Friday night against the Nashville Predators.

Chicago fans and national fans took interest in the Blackhawks when they drafted Bedard with the No. 1 pick in 2023. However, Bedard has been criticized in his second season for not progressing as fast as the national media thought he would. The 19-year-old has struggled to win face-offs.

Connor Bedard doesn’t care what TNT says

Per Charlie Roumeliotis with WGN Radio, Bedard brushed off the spin coming from the national media. TNT’s Paul Bissonnette recently called Bedard’s game “pond hockey.”

Bedard said he’s only focused on getting better.

“I’m not watching broadcasts or anything,” Bedard said. “I’m playing hockey. Their job is to say what they see. I couldn’t really care less, to be honest, what people on the outside think of me or us. But of course I’m not going to be butthurt if someone says I make a bad play or whatever. I don’t care. It’s their job to say what they feel and I’m not going to take anything personally…

“Hey man, I know if I messed up a play. Like I said, it’s their job to point that out or to say how they feel about something. But if I make a mistake, I know. I don’t need to watch a TNT broadcast to figure out if I made a mistake. I’m going to know.”

Full comments from Connor Bedard on the recent scrutiny he’s been receiving from national TV analysts: “I’m not watching broadcasts or anything. I’m playing hockey. Their job is to say what they see. I couldn’t really care less, to be honest, what people on the outside think of…

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 6, 2025

Chicago Blackhawks coach defends Bedard

Interim head coach Anders Sorensen didn’t deny Bedard is struggling, but said the second-year player is giving effort despite gifting the puck to his opponents.

“Puck management is a big part of the game but we’ll keep those conversations between me and him, what we talk about,” Sorensen said. “He’s aware, He’s a smart player. He knows if he makes a mistake. We talk during the game. He’s a smart player but he’s aware. Even if you look at those turnovers he had, if you look at who’s the first guy back after those turnovers, it’s him. So he knows.”

#Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen on the Connor Bedard criticism: “Puck management is a big part of the game but we’ll keep those conversations between me and him, what we talk about. He’s aware, He’s a smart player. He knows if he makes a mistake. We talk during the…

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) February 6, 2025

Despite serious shortcomings in his play, Bedard still leads the Blackhawks in points (46) on 15 goals and 31 assists.

There’s no reason for the Blackhawks to panic about the No. 1 pick in 2023.

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